Islamabad
The Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Muhammad Sohail Afridi has approved establishment of Child Protection Units in five (5) new districts which will increase number of these units to twenty-four (24). This major development took place as the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mr. Sohail Afridi approved allocation of Rs. 119.86 million for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Commission which includes Rs. 57 million for the establishment of new CPUs under the ‘Good Governance Road Map’ of the provincial government while additional Rs. 62.86 million for strengthening existing CPUs including appointments on all vacant posts. Under the allocated funds new Child Protection Units will be established in Mansehra, Shangla, Malakand, Dera Ismaiel Khan and Nowshera.
Mr. Nazar Hussain Shah, Secretary Social Welfare Department termed the development as a landmark achievement for the welfare and protection of children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said that working under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Commission, the Child Protection Unit is focal point for identification, registration, rehabilitation and reintegration of children at risk and without the unit, we cannot address issues of vulnerable children who are in need of immediate response and suitable service.
He added that establishment of a Child Protection Unit in each district is mandatory under the law and through new units, the KP Child Protection and Welfare Commission will have access to the majority of the province. He further said that the government is committed to establish units throughout the province and soon steps will be taken to cover all the remaining districts so that all the children may be protected from all forms of violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect.
Ijaz Muhammad Khan Chief Child Protection and Welfare Commission added that to actualize the financial allocation by the Chief Minister, the Provincial Office of KPCPWC will soon initiate hiring process through ETEA so that staff for all the units may be taken onboard strictly on merit and regular function in the new units may be started.
He further said that human resources of the unit includes Child Protection Officer, Social Case Worker and Psychologist which provides a complete case management process for children at risk and through a strong referral system, each child is provided with all needed services through public and private service delivery organizations.
Ijaz Muhammad Khan said that in addition to directly addressing children at risk, the Child Protection Unit also works on mass awareness and involving local communities in the great of child protection. For this purpose, Community-based Child Protection Committees are formed on grass-root level which becomes part of the mechanism. He also added that through Child Protection Units, legal aid is also provided to children at risk in court cases.
